DIY TOROIDAL PROPELLERS on a Tiny FPV Drone

These are 3D printed Toroidal Propellers for TinyWhoop FPV drones. I talk about 3D Printing techniques for your own toroidal FPV Drone Propellers, as well as perform some tests to see just how practical these propellers are. Whether you're an experienced pilot or a 3D printing enthusiast, I hope that you'll find this interesting.
Thingiverse 3D Printable File:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:592...
Time Stamps
00:00 What is a Toroidal Prop
00:52 Downloading File
01:03 Designing and Printing
03:22 Testing
05:04 Final Thoughts
#fpvdrone #tinywhoop

[@6torthor]

I'm still surprised no one has tried resin printing these props from all the DIY toroidal i've seen so far. Smoothness is so utterly important for these props, and the fact that they're performing slightly less better than the normal filament 3D printed props is a good sign tbh. I plan on resin printing my own soon since my school has a few

[@professorboots]

I would love to resin print a set but that’s a tool I have yet to get. You’ll have to let me know how it goes if you print some!

[@6torthor]

@@professorboots For sure

[@rapeerdb1]

I tried to, the propellers printed on the SLA printer, aren't stiff enough unfortunately. Could be the resin, or the particular designs I used, but I tried 2 different brands of resin and 4 different prop designs without a success.

[@GhostRyderFPV]

Wall-E says a fair test comparison can only be done if both propeller types were 3d printed. More variables would be consistent across the two, I assume the biggest issues - surface texture and weight - would be more inline with each other.

[@tobuslieven]

The toroidals look like traditional props with a weird shaped duct attached to them. The duct part of the toroidal actually puts the outer prop in its "shadow". I feel like attaching a purely cylindrical duct to a traditional prop might do better. Cool video.

[@professorboots]

Ohhhh I like the idea I might just have to try giving it a shot, thank you!

[@StrifeCJ]

my only thought on how you could have better tested your prop is to compair a printed toroidal with a printed traditional. Injection moulded products are just so different structally wether is regular or resin printed. i doubt you can get any valuably accurate data worth sharing. as a side note. your drone workshop looks clean!! gota work on mine more seeing this LOL. dispite the results sounds like you had a blast making and testing.

[@professorboots]

I definitely had a blast making and testing but you’re right the materials are just so different. thank you I do like my little workshop space😂.

[@GusBus963]

I'd add that if one set of props lacks a fancy aerofoil shape + optimisations then the other should too for a apples to apples comparison

[@conorstewart2214]

You could always try printing with ABS and using acetone vapour smoothing to get really smooth results.

[@professorboots]

I bet that would help with efficiency a lot! Thanks for the idea!

[@DEADPOOL-ti4cs]

You can use ethyl acetate or dichloromethane to smooth pla. May be that could help improving efficiency.

[@professorboots]

Good to know, I’ll give that I shot im sure the imperfections in the surface really messed up the efficiency. Thank you!

[@joongyukwak3545]

This video is really fun. I commend you for your challenge.

[@professorboots]

Haha thank you! It was definitely interesting to make and test, albeit it slightly time consuming.

[@nidhu595]

Love your work! you deserve so many more subscribers, Keep it up!

[@professorboots]

Thank you! I’ve been having a lot of fun with these videos so far, I can’t wait to see where it goes!

[@Dicky678]

How many degree blade angle pitch?

[@dicpra7182]

How many degree blade angle toroidal prop?

[@infoaerialmaster]

What module do you use for your analog rTx on the side of your goggles v2? Sweet vid

[@professorboots]

I’m actually using a super cheap Eachine PRO58 RX in the video with two lollipop antennas. It works alright for buzzing around enclosed spaces but definitely can’t compete with something like a rapidfire. And thank you!

[@waynep343]

I wonder if a thin filler area between the outer loops to make the outside circular without reducing thrust.

[@professorboots]

Ohhhh i think i see what you’re getting at. That would definitely be interesting!

[@sarahmiller9188]

I need this lol

[@LucGendrot]

I have to wonder if size is what is making these so inefficient compared to other folks' I've seen test the concept, I would imagine the vortices these are designed to mitigate show up far more with larger surface areas?

[@professorboots]

I bet that likely has something to do with it. I might try directly scaling up this design to a 5’ and see how inefficient they are then. Thank you for the thought!

[@etherealicer]

Could you point me to those successful test? I'm starting to think this is a scam. Especially, since all MIT has presented to this point (6 years after the initial patent) is a really poor graph (no RPM, no power data etc.) and a video that is clearly a scam (muted when showing their Design etc. and of course Zero data).

[@junkthe]

Request : please bump test the props if any harmless produced to our skin if hit.

[@professorboots]

Surely! Doesn’t seem like it, they don’t come to a fine point so there isn’t much cutting they can do.

[@mrajith303]

Can you also make the propeller from Mark rovers video of zip line??

[@professorboots]

Oh yeah that weird crows foot looking one? I would love to give it a try. I’ll see what I can do!

[@tbounds4812]

should have 3d printed the traditional propellers aswell to make the test more fair

[@professorboots]

That definitely would have been the wise thing to do😂

[@oscarsalgado189]

Are you gonna share the diagram of the circuit??

[@professorboots]

Yes! It’s on the thingiverse page as a picture

[@leonardterlevic4765]

I think that the flight time was lower beacause the troidal props had a lot more surface area than the stock props, and the 1s 0802 motors couldn't handle it

[@professorboots]

Yeah I tried to make the toroidal props slightly thinner to make up for the extra blades, but something tells me I didn’t make them thin enough

[@leonardterlevic4765]

If they were thinner they would be much more britle, maybe troidal props just work better on bigger drones

[@user-vm1xj2bb8p]

Torodial props lacks in thrust, which many say it's a scam

[@professorboots]

Well based off my results I’d say that might just be true😂

[@jamesgilmore431]

you should have tried a 3 bladed propeller to compare.

[@professorboots]

That would have been a good idea!

[@markuskoarmani1364]

Tape it to the scale and see the pull at max between the 2 props

[@professorboots]

That’s a really good idea, I also meant to add a portion where I just weigh both sets of props in the video.

[@maddercat]

I have a sla printer, but I can't think of a good material that wouldnt shatter, I think even abs like stuff would shatter immediately.

[@professorboots]

You would definitely know better than I would, it would for sure shatter if the propellers came in contact with something. Not very crash proof haha, which would go against the tinywhoop way haha.

[@Inertia888]

I am wondering if a graphene additive would work? I understand how to make it, but I don't have the equipment. I won't be able to test it any time soon, but it is certainly worth the test. Here is a link to the video that gave me the idea: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZmroH9tbLZ3ock

[@razorblade7108]

Normal propellers are made from polycarbonate, so might as well print with that. Or maybe some hard TPU, but I fear it would deform too much under load and become inefficient

[@professorboots]

@@razorblade7108 that would be a really good idea, especially with a tiny-whoop as there’s not to much load on the propellers themselves as they aren’t lifting that much weight. Would be worth a shot!

[@professorboots]

@@Inertia888 Possibly though I’m definitely going to have to expand my knowledge on that subject!

[@zaid9166]

what about other prop design

[@professorboots]

What do you have in mind?

[@TheVeganarchism]

4:58 Cripes, 10.26A?! That little Goku AIO board has 5A ESCs…not much more wiggle room there.

[@professorboots]

Haha yeah it’s definitely pushing the envelope a little bit.

[@FisforFenton]

you got to get an SLA printer to help print better props.

[@professorboots]

I concur, it would be so nice!

[@justanotherfpv]

Super fun!!! Sucks you had the same results!!

[@professorboots]

Haha yeah, maybe on the next test I’ll have better luck!

[@ra3or]

you need to have those props balanced, otherwise they will consume alot and yes, pop :)

[@professorboots]

On my next go around I’ll see what I can do to make sure they’re perfectly balanced. Thank you!

[@kingrutse3278]

It’s the weight

[@cyberflightfpv4184]

Unless you resin print or injection mould these. The returns are going to be terrible. Also, prop pitch is going to make a huge difference. Don't judge one 1 test

[@professorboots]

Absolutely right! I’d love to resin print a set, but still need to get me a resin printer

[@GamingTechReview]

Resins add additional weight to the design counteracting any benefit.

[@DimmyV]

Love this but your comparison between the Toroidal and 2 blade prop is not the same. The toroidal prop is effectively 6 blades. I would use a 5 blade prop to make it fairer.

[@DimmyV]

Of course the 2 blade prop would be more efficient 😂 more blades means more resistance.

[@professorboots]

Definitely some really good points! I thought about that and tried to make the surface area less on each Individual toroidal blade so it would take less of a bite out of the air, but maybe I need to make them smaller or increase the blades on the comparison propeller like you suggested! Thank you for sharing!

[@elektroluki1595]

@@professorboots From the test at full throttle you can hear that the tone of your propeller is much lower, even though the prop has effectively 6 blades. So I guess that it spins much slower and that the load on the motor is much higher, which probably makes it inefficient and drives the current up (as you pointed out in the flight test). You could also compare them to 2 bladed propellers on a bigger drone with stronger motors. Yes, the conventional propellers will be bigger, but maybe then the motors are in a comparable operation point. Really cool project. I would have never thought that functioning propellers can be printed just like that! Nice work!

[@professorboots]

@@elektroluki1595 you’re definitely correct, those little motors got pretty toasty after flying around. I have plans to do some similar testing with a 5in quad which will be interesting!

[@myname-mz3lo]

it is loud because it is not smooth ... if it was as smooth as the store bought props then it would be quieter

[@professorboots]

You make a good point, I’m going to try and smooth them out better on the next batch!

[@jonnywakefield8796]

The toroidal prop is all a scam, interesting how there's always excuses for why it's worse

[@professorboots]

Haha maybe so, it just looks so dang cool though.

[@jonnywakefield8796]

@@professorboots Enjoy your videos either way👍

[@professorboots]

@@jonnywakefield8796 Thanks man, I appreciate it! I’ve had a lot of fun with it so far.

[@altamashparwaiz2097]

It increases weight.

[@richard--s]

Maybe lightweight PLA could compensate the higher weight? But I guess a torodial propeller adds air resistance due to it's shape. There are some parts that are moving in the air and don't provide lift.

[@misutatomasu]

Maybe you made toroidals much heavier than normal props? Honeycomb the inside and balance them properly, then try again.

[@professorboots]

I definitely think they’re much heavier, I should’ve done a segment where I weighed them on a scale. I’ll make sure to do that next time.

[@ra3or]

that is dangerous, a loose prop part would take an eye out